Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Sykes, George (1802-1880) to Marsena Rudolph Patrick

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02456.29 Author/Creator: Sykes, George (1802-1880) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: July 16, 1864 Pagination: 1 p. ; 24.3 x 19.5 cm. + 1 engraving ; b&w ; 24.8 x 17.3 cm Order a Copy

General Sykes writes from Headquarters, 5th Corps, to Patrick, Provost Marshal of the Army of the Potomac. Writes that a friend of his, Miss Mary Delaplane, wishes to go to Alexandria or Washington, D.C. to meet one of her brothers, who "has important business with her solely on family affairs." Remarks, "There are five sisters residing together- & no one to help them or give them advice- I will answer for their doing nothing prejudicial in any way to our cause." Requests a pass for Delaplane. One bust engraving of Sykes included as collateral.

Sykes, George, 1802-1880
Patrick, Marsena Rudolph, 1811-1888
Delaplane, Mary, fl. 1864

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